It's been a while....

Hello!!! I'm still here! It's been a shamefully (is that a word?) long time since I blogged. Christmas Eve to be exact. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New year (a distant memory now especially as next week we are in February)! Since Christmas I have been getting over tonsillitis, renovating the cottage (The Never Ending Story as I now call it), spending time with friends and family, commuting into London for the day job which still completely tires me out and de-cluttering my life. A very busy time indeed.

The cottage is coming along nicely and I can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even if one job that appears to be easy ends up being a right pain and takes longer than you think and tests the patience of my lovely Jim. It'll be worth it when it's done.

We have year end at work which means lots of figures for me and a busy time, not forgetting Jim and my own tax return to do. All of this hasn't left me much time to be creative.

However did you see the picture above of all the lovely books I received for Christmas (and one afterwards). Wow. I love crafts and I love books, so to get books on crafting and baking is pure heaven. I've had a good old read already and have lots of ideas and projects earmarked for the future. Once 31st Jan has passed I can get to it!

Most of the books were from my wonderful Jim, as was this gorgeous necklace he bought me which is made of real poppies in resin. Handmade and perfect. I am very fortunate to have him in my life.

Well I hope to get back in to the blogging world again. I've been reading others but just haven't had the time to comment or post anything. But I hope to show you soon projects I am working on.

Have a great week and I'll post my final drawing of Pip soon.

Helen xx

A trip down memory lane

Last week I posted about my needle case that I had made when I was ten years old and still use. Well would you believe I have another item that is much older than the needle case that I came across on Friday.

Jim's eldest daughter wasn't feeling well so I offered her up my hot water bottle. When I got it out of the drawer I smiled as it's in an old nightdress case I had when I was a kid. Growing up in the seventies, there wasn't such luxurious things as hot water bottles with fluffy covers, you really just had a blue hot water bottle that you covered in a towel to stop yourself from burning if you happened to put water that was too hot in there. So my mum used an nightie case I had as a gift and placed the hot water bottle in it as it was a perfect size. Here it is, well worn and loved.


When I left home it came with me (I have no idea why but I'm glad it did!)

My Dad's cousin Jackie made this for me with a matching nightdress and I think I must've been 6 when I had it. Except mum thought it was a dress and sent me to a talent contest wearing it. Here I am wearing it at The Savoy Holiday Camp in the Isle of Wight! Gotta love the 70's. After Jackie saw the photo she told mum it was a nightdress so I was saved further embarrassment!

I am sure I inherited alot of my artistic ability but I also watched lots too. Jackie and her cousins Pamela and Jan were always making things and I remember them coming over on a Sunday for the family roast dinner, then knitting or crocheting afterwards. So inspiring. I really looked up to Jackie and spent lots of time with her and was a bridesmaid at her wedding - I can't believe I am doing this but here's a picture of me as a bridesmaid at her wedding back in 1984 when I was a mere 13 (I'm on the right). Don't you just love the pink taffeta and the flick (you can tell I was a Wham fan as that hairdo is very George Michael-ish!!) Such an 80's picture and come to think of it, this dress was made by Pamela's mum.

Anyway, through life you meet lots of inspirational people and sometimes you get to hold on to things they have made with love. Even though I know there are fluffy covered hot water bottle covers out there, no one has this little creature and that's why I love handmade stuff. Just so unique.

A craft store trip

It's been a lovely weekend and the only thing missing really was seeing my mum. I normally visit on a Saturday, but I just had too much to get sorted out ready for Christmas, so I am looking forward to seeing her next week.

On Saturday I managed to finally visit the new Hobbycraft that had opened up in Staines. Since moving this is now my nearest one. I know they are a bit overpriced but I went in determined not to spend any more than I needed. The thing with Hobbycraft is that it pretty much covers most hobbies which means there's tonnes to look at, touch and sigh over. But I was good and only bought what was on my list.

I wanted to make some felt decorations for the kiddies presents (ours and my friends) so I picked up some felt and thread. I will use them to decorate the present with and hopefully if they are good enough they can be used as tree decorations. Least that's the plan. I bought 10 sheets of felt but does anyone know where you can buy this any cheaper in larger sizes? They weren't really expensive but I just feel I could get a better deal (I'm asking as I really want to make more things with felt).

I also wanted to make stockings this year for us all, but my sewing machine is buried in stuff at the house which I am still doing up, so I thought I would buy these and personalise them. They are not brilliant stockings, but I didn't want to spend a fortune as I really want to spend time making lovely, long lasting ones. I guess that will have to be next year now. Still, I plan on making these look nice by giving them an individual look so I will use some of the felt I bought to add names etc to these.

I desperately needed some pinking shears and debated whether to buy Fiskars ones as my dressmaking shears are by them and really good quality. I mulled it over and ended up buying the Hobbycraft ones at half the price. I just hope they are not half the quality either. I also bought a pen to mark out my design on the felt and apparently the ink vanishes by air after 24 hours. Has anyone else used this? I hope it works.

At then Hobbycraft got me at the till. As I queued up they had chocolate bells in a big tub and I gave in and purchased them....still that was the only thing that wasn't on the list so I patted myself on the back!!

I put these on the tree when the kids were in bed and within 30 minutes of Ollie waking up he walked around the tree, stood on tiptoe, held one in his hands and said 'that is locklat'. It's amazing how at 3 and a half children can sniff out chocolate.

I don't know if it's to do with Christmas or not, but I really feel like making and learning lots and lots of crafts. It may have to do with Kirstie's Handmade Britain or all of the lovely Facebook pages I have found recently, but I really want to paint, take photo's, sew, bake and just totally lose myself in crafty things.

Hope you all had a great weekend and that your week is wonderful.

Helen

Sentimental journey

Last night I had to sew buttons back on jumpers and cardigans, so I got down my trusty sewing box to look for a needle and thread. And I had a real sense of nostalgia as my needles are still stored in a needle case I made when I was at juniors school.

I know it was juniors school as I can remember clearly the classroom I was in as I sat and made this little case. It would have been my last year (so aged 10-11) before moving up to the high school. I have no idea what year it would be classed now not being with it and all.

Anyway, I sat and admired the handiwork….how carefully I had cut it out and stitched around the edges and realised that I had made this almost 30 years ago. Wow. I’d not mislaid it in all those years, but had kept it like it was something precious. I guess now it is….well least to me.

And this needle case is stored in my Nan’s sewing box which was passed to my mum upon my Nan’s death and then given to me some time ago by mum. That and a little pill box are my treasured possessions that were my dear Nan’s.

As I took a picture of this for my blog I realised that I had placed it on a quilt my mum made last year and had given to me. So right there in front of me were 3 generations of craft stuff…..all of which are handmade, either by my family or another crafter.

It’s wonderful that the UK is starting to embrace handmade items again and encouraging us to take up a craft or work at the ones we may already know.

I love it and I hope that in years to come this sewing box, quilt and needle case are enjoyed by the generation below me.

What a lovely thought.

Handmade Britain

Image courtesy of Channel 4

Last night after a tiring day at work I settled down on the sofa with a cup of tea and watched Kirstie's Handmade Britain on Channel 4. And I was in heaven. All I can say is that it's wonderful that we are starting to embrace creativity and show programmes on television that encourage us to have a go. And not only that, but the show explores crafts that we may not have thought of trying before, or even known existed.

So there I was sketchbook in hand, doodling ideas for Christmas cards whilst sipping tea and eyeing up birds made of newspaper, cards with paper stitched on and a really funky ring made from an old book.

This is episode 2 out of 8 and I can't wait for the rest. Well done Channel 4 for bringing us such a fab programme.